3S6 
THE THUNBERGIA. 
Thwibergia chrysops, Hooker (golden-eyed 
Thunbergia). — A stout growing climbing 
plant, of a compact and half shrubby sort of 
habit, producing opposite heart-shaped leaves, 
with small angular teeth on the margins, and 
bearing its flowers from the axils ; the flowers 
are large and beautifully coloured, the golden 
eye is surrounded by a belt of light blue, the 
five broad outer segments being of a rich dark 
purple. The habit of this plant is, to a cer- 
tain extent, suffruticose, and young plants, if 
kept stopped back, may be made almost to 
assume the shrub-like character, if they are 
not grown too strong ; older plants, in a free 
state of growth, assume the climbing character. 
A native of Sierra Leone, and introduced -in 
1843. Flowers through the summer months. 
Thunbergia coccinea, Wallich (scarlet- 
flowered Thunbergia). — A free growing climb- 
ing perennial plant, growing six or eight feet 
high, with cordate shining opposite leaves, 
angular at the base, and having a long point ; 
the flowers grow in drooping racemes from 
the axils of the leaves, and are of a light 
scarlet colour, but the petals reflex, as in the 
blossoms oflfimulus cardinalis, which detracts 
much from their effect. It is a native of 
Nepal, and was introduced in 1823. It flowers 
freely towards the autumn. This plant is now 
sometimes called Hexacentris coccinea (Nees). 
Thunbergia cordata, Colla (heart-leaved 
Thunbergia). — A small climbing plant, growing 
about three feet high, with heart-shaped leaves, 
and bearing white blossoms during the latter 
part of spring and the summer. It is a native 
of Brazil, and was introduced about 1820. 
Thunbergia fragrans, Roxburgh (fragrant 
Thunbergia). — A slender climbing plant, with 
somewhat rigid stems, growing three or four 
feet in length, furnished with opposite cordate- 
acuminate dentated leaves, from whose axils 
are produced the pure white blossoms. It is 
a native of the East Indies, and was introduced 
in 1796. Its flowering season is the summer 
months, but it is almost perpetually in blossom. 
Thunbergia grandiflora, Roxburgh (large 
flowered Thunbergia). — A robust climbing 
plant, with branches attaining ten or twelve 
feet in length, producing opposite angularly cor- 
date leaves, from whose axils are borne the large 
deep blue flowers, which remain in perfection 
several days. It is a native of the East Indies, 
and was introduced about 1820. It flowers 
during great part of the summer season. 
Thunbergia Hawtayneana, Wallich (Haw- 
tayne's Thunbergia). — A vigorous climbing 
plant, growing ten or twelve feet or more in 
length, furnished with entire heart-shaped 
leathery leaves, having from their axils large 
blue flowers with a yellow throat. It requires 
to be well established before it produces many 
blossoms. It is a native of Nepal, and was 
introduced about 1826. It flowers throughout 
the summer. This species is called Meyenia 
Hawtayneana (Nees). 
The numerous varieties of Thunbergia 
alata are the most suited for general cultiva- 
tion, and they are, perhaps, the most beautiful 
of all. They grow well in pots ; and along 
with balsams and various tender annuals and 
free flowering stove plants they form excel- 
lent greenhouse ornaments during summer. 
For this purpose, as indeed for most others, 
they are best raised from seeds, although they 
may be perpetuated by cuttings ; seedlings, 
however, make much more vigorous plants. 
The seeds should be sown in February in pots 
of any light soil, and placed in a hotbed frame, 
along with the various tender annuals raised 
at that season of the year. As soon as they 
are fairly vegetated, plant them singly into 
small pots in a rough soil, composed of two 
parts of turfy heath soil, one part of sandy 
loam, and one of well decayed leaf mould. 
This soil will be suitable for them throughout 
the different periods of growth. Keep them 
growing in a hotbed where the warmth is 
slight, and where a good portion of fresh air 
can be admitted. They are best kept in a 
frame in this way until the greenhouse is 
cleared out in May or June, when they should 
be taken there along with various other plants 
to decorate that structure during summer. If 
no frame can be spared, remove them to a 
warm shelf in the greenhouse earlier. Keep 
them repotted frequently, so that ultimately, 
by the beginning of June, they may be in 
twelve-inch or even eighteen-inch pots. They 
must be well watered, and every third water- 
ing may consist of clear diluted liquid manure, 
made either with the drainings of the dunghill 
or with sheep or deer dung, or with guano or 
Potter's guano. A very excellent liquid 
manure for these and other plants may be 
made as follows : — Take two pecks of sheep's 
dung, one peck of soot, and two quarts of 
Potter's guano : mix these first into a paste 
with boiling water, and then add a hogshead 
of rain-water. Stir frequently for a day or 
two, and then stir in a quart of quick lime, 
and as soon as the water is quite clear, it is fit 
for use. This water, diluted with about one- 
third clear water, may be used for plants of all 
kinds — even orchids will not object to it, and 
heaths and most hard-wooded plants revel in 
it ; once a week will be frequent enough to 
use it, except to very strong rooted things, 
many of which would enjoy it daily. 
The plants require a trellis for their 
branches, and, if they grow freely, they will 
cover a considerable space. The following is 
a good mode of trellising these plants. Around 
the inside of the pot, after the final shifting 
(the largest size mentioned), place five or six 
